Adam Thielen may have been used sporadically by the Minnesota Vikings, but he could be in for a bonanza with his buddy Aaron Rodgers.

A year after he also missed seven games due to injury with the Carolina Panthers, Thielen may well just be at the end of the road from a physical standpoint. Still, as a low-risk rental, he might have appeal to a handful of teams on track for January football.

Adam Thielen was granted his release from the Vikings on Monday. He was claimed off waivers by the Steelers on Tuesday.

The Detroit Lakes, Minn. native then returned home in late August—as Carolina traded Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Vikings in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Thielen's Minnesota reunion has not gone according to plan, however. The Vikings fell to 4-8 with Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, a game started by third-string quarterback Max Brosmer while starter J.J. McCarthy sat out with a concussion.

In 2025, Thielen has recorded 8.9 fantasy points (1.0 per game) -- 151st at his position, 403rd in the NFL. Looking at his past three games, Thielen has picked up 22 yards receiving, on three catches (six targets), with zero touchdowns and an average of 0.7 fantasy points (2.2 total).

The Steelers walked into Sunday’s clash with Buffalo knowing the stakes, but few expected the game to unravel the way it did. A defensive scoop‑and‑score, a quarterback milestone, and a ground game that flipped the script all combined to turn a tight contest into a lopsided 26–7 defeat.